Holiday reflections - why we all need to make time to get away ??

Hi gang! How are you all doing?

I hope September has been equal parts exciting and mundane - and you are getting back in the swing. It's early days here in the Braid household - still not quite in the routine and when that alarm goes off, it's still a shock.

Our family holiday was in France this year and all the rain today is making me nostalgic. I am feeling the post holiday blues. It's raining, my feet are cold and the very faint tan I managed to get has most definitely faded.

And I have been thinking about why holidays, and rest, are so important.

In recruitment, and yes, back in the day - taking time off was frowned upon. A few days - ok, a week off? You are pushing it. A whole two weeks off - are you feeling ok?! And I am pleased to see that this culture is almost gone, if not OUT - it certainly is with the clients I work with. Because their leaders know that taking time out is crucial to a happy work force and a motivated individual.?

In the Forbes' Article on "Five reasons why travel is good for your mental health", the writer Noma Nazish says "Traveling promotes happiness and helps you take your mind off stressful situations. This leads to lower cortisol levels, making you feel more calm and content."?

The article goes on to explain how travel can boost happiness and satisfaction. "Apart from the obvious fact that you don't have to go to work (and can legit eat pizza for breakfast), traveling gives you the opportunity to step away from the daily grind. The new events and experiences help rewire your brain, hence boosting your mood and self-confidence."

Now, despite not eating pizza for breakfast (but a lot of pastry ??) I did have some delicious meals, including probably one of the best meals I have ever had for our 15th Wedding anniversary - eating different food and creating memories is something I think we can all try and recreate at home. (more on that later)

I?personally find it quite difficult to relax at home. There are always jobs and things on my to do list staring at me, whereas when we go away, those jobs that keep a family home well oiled are suddenly taken away and in their place - new sights, sounds and smells to calm my busy brain.?

Travel also gets you out of your comfort zone, especially if there is a language difference. My French is very much GCSE level but I am always surprised at what I can remember and understand. And that part of my brain is suddenly fired up to learn more and expand my vocabulary. So much so in fact, a lady in a market I think thought I was French and I didn't want to embarrass her so we had a rather long if not stilted conversation about her homemade room scents. (which were very lovely) I will treasure that memory - the sunlight, the smells and my brother standing next to me feeling incredibly embarrassed (sorry little brother!)

A clinical psychologist has some great ideas to keep that holiday feeling -?" I encourage people to hold on to aspects of a travel experience or vacation that was pleasurable," says Dr. Tamara McClintock Greenberg. For example, "if you liked the food in Paris, learn how to cook French food in order to re-create some of the feelings you had while you were on vacation," she explains. "Another behavioural intervention is to remember peaceful moments you had on vacation and try to remember what was different from your present life. Maybe you took the time to eat breakfast, maybe you exercised. Those things are crucial reminders of what we should do every day."?

So I hope you take this as a reminder to find some time for yourself over the coming weeks, to try and find those moments of calmness you had on holiday and recreate those feelings of being care free and in the moment. One thing I am keen to get back into the habit of is to go walking and take in the views of the Chilterns that I am very lucky to have outside my front door. And they almost look like the photo above which was taken at our rented house near Bergerac. ?? (but I will start after the torrential rain has subsided)

If you would like some accountability to set up a new habit for yourself - do email me on [email protected] - and we can remind each other!

Have a great week,

Ali

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P.S. If you would like to read the full article here it is:

Five Reasons Why Travel Is Good For Your Mental Health (forbes.com)